Atomizer



E. B. HUNN oct. 26 1943.

ATOMIZER Filed Jan. 1o. 1942 FIC-Z -Z wn/D n F/G- a Ffa-zzz FIG.-

Ffa -JZ FIC-Z-Z WMM' y Patented Oct. 26, 1943 ATOMIZER Edward B. Bunn,Cranford, N. J., assignor to Stanco Incorporated, va corporation ofDela- Ware Application January 10, 1942, Serial No. 426,305

1 Claim.

This invention relates to a small compact atomizing device of size andshape convenient for carrying about ones person and suited fordispensing liquids in a dense finely diffused spray from liquidimpregnated materials contained therein. The invention relatesparticularly to a small pocket size relatively inexpensive atomizerdevice for injecting medicinal liquids into the nasal and oral passagesof the body in a relatively uniform iinely diffused spray from liquidimpregnated materials charged to and sealed into the device at the timeof its manufacture.

The invention may be fully understood from reading the followingdescription and the illustrations afforded in the accompanying drawingof specific embodiments, the same numerals being given to similarlyrelated parts.

Figure I is a vertical view of one form of the assembled atomizingdevice, partly in section, showing the ve principal parts of theatomizer, namely:

(a) Cap member (I).

(b) Body member (I).

(c) Compression member or pressure element (d) Absorbent packing (30).

(e) Sealing member (40).

Figure II is a cross sectional view along the line I'-I of Figure I.

Figure III is a vertical sectional view through the unassembled atomizerdevice with the parts relatively arranged as to indicate the manner ofassembly;

Figures IVa, IVb, and IVc are vertical sections through various endforms of the nozzle portion of the body member I0, showing particularlyvariations in thickness of materials through which the atomizer hole ofthe same chamber is pierced;

-Figure V is a vertical view of a second form of the assembled atomizingdevice, partly in section, showing the same five parts; Va showing theabsorbent packing member suitable therefor, separately;` and Figure VIis a vertical view of a third form of the assembled atomizing device,partly in section, showing the same ve parts; VIa showing the absorbentpacking member suitable therefor, separately.

The cap member I is simply a dust cap made of any suitable rigidmaterial, not acted upon or corroded by the materials used in theatomizer. Materials such as glass, molded plastics and metals aregenerally considered suitable. The

cap is made to t over the nozzle II of the body member I0 either by afriction iit, or preferably by means of screw threads 2 (or slots)adjusted to move upon the screw threads I2 (or lugs) on the nozzle II ofthebody member I0. The cap is usually between 1A!" and long and ofconical or hemispherical external shape. The cap may, or may not, befitted with a gasket 3.

The body member I0 is a tubular element open at one end and closed nearthe opening above the -nozzle by the septum I3. The tubular eiement maybe externally either of circular or polygonal cross section andinternally preferably of either circular or rectangular cross section.It may be made of any suitable rigid material not acted upon or corrodedupon by liquids used in the atomizer such as glass, metal, etc. butpreferably is of either molded plastic or metal. The tubular element isusually between 11A?" and 1%" long and of minimum wall thicknessconsistent with rigidity of construction as determined by the nature ofthe material of fabrication. Thus, when plastic materials are employedthe thickness will be greater than when metallic materials are employed.In the center of the septum I3 a hole I4 is made of diameter of aboutl/m", which serves as the orifice through which the liquid is atomized.It is important to stress that while the main portion of the septum I3may be of any thickness, as shown in Figures IVa, b, and c, it isessential that the thickness at the hole I4 be about 0.025 inch or lessin order that in air-tight, Huid-tight connection. The manner in whichthe connection between the body member I 0 and the compression member 20is made is optional as indicated in Figures III, IV and V. In Figure IIIthere is shown about 1%6" from the open end of the body member I0 anannular enlargement I5 against which is pressed in friction fit over thefree end of the body member the portion of the compression member 20which has an inwardly directed iiange 2l and a terminal annularenlargement 22 so that the sealing mem ber may be pushed over thejunction and if necessary over the annular enlargement I5 of the bodymember I0 and the compression bulb 20 in air-tight and fluid-tightconnection. An alternative manner of providing an air-tight, fluid-tightt of the compression member 20 over the body member I0 is, as shown'inFigure V, to have the compression member 20 provided with a terminal2Il-consists of a cylindrical pieceof rubber orv other resilientmaterial open at one end. When the liquid to be atomized is an oil, itis preferable to'have this compression member made of neoprene or othersynthetic rubber which is not affected by contact with oils. Sometimesin the compression member there is an air hole 24 of about 1% indiameter in the side of the bulb over which the thumb, in the-use of theatomizing device, is expected to be placed during the compressionstroke.

The absorbent packing member 30 consists of any suitable absorbent,porous material such as felt, cotton, chalk, or even wood. The absorbentpacking material 30 usually, though not necessarily, completely fillsthe inside of the body member and in the assembled unit it is fittedinto the body member so as to be under slight pressure against theseptum I3 and the nozzle opening I4. This absorbent material issaturated with the liquid to be atomized. It is usual to have thispacking material made of one piece which completely lfills the bodymember IIJ with a slight amount of compression against the opening I4.In some cases, it is advantageous to have the absorbent material merelyas a core in the body member. Themost practical shape for thepackingmember 30 is in the form of a rectangular prism prepared fromsheets of absorbent material. "In Figure III the packing is ofrectangular, prism shape; in Figure V, of rectangular shape, and inFigure VI, of rectangular prism shape with a forwardly projectingportion of smaller cross section than the main portion.

The sealing member 4D consists of a band 0r ferrule made of metal orother suitable material which .is crimped or vcemented over the jointbetween thebody member I0 and the compression f member 2Il. Thepreferred form of this sealing member is a thin metal ferrule or bandwhich is slipped over the compression member or pres.

sure element after assembling and then the open end of the ferrule iscrimped, or rolled, over the annular` enlargement I5 of the body member.However, any other suitable lmeans of holding the compression member tothe body member may be employed, as for example, a cellulose band, whichshrinks. y v

In the assembled atomizer device, as illustrated in Figure I, the bodymember I0 is usually closely packed withabsorbent material of the natureof i'elt and impregnated with medicinal liquid, so as to be under slightpressure against the septum I3 and the opening I4 therein. The packingmaterial .30 may consist of one portion, or a seriesof discs suitablyimpregnated with the liquid. When the compression member 20 iscompressed. air is forced through the packing material, which, emergingfrom the small hole I4, develops a finely diifused dense spray of theliquid. When the hole 24 is pierced or is made in the compressionmember,l the release of the bulb to its ncrafter ,application anddrying,l

When the absorbent material 30 completely Y illls the body` member it isparticularly advantageous in the functioning of the atomizer to have thehole 24v in the compression member. When the absorbent material 30 iscompletely saturated, no liquid is drawnv into the bulb on the releasestroke-if the hole is uncovered, thus preventing any deposition of thevaluable medicament in the bulb or air through the opening I4.

The assembled device functions as a small, highly effective atomizer byforcing air from the compression member 20 through liquid saturatedmaterial when the absorbent material 30 com-V pletely ll's Athe bodymember I0 or over the exposed surface of the liquid saturated materialwhen the absorbent material is merely a core in the body member I0 andthence through the small hole I4 near the end ofthe nozzle II of thebody member. Sometimes the compression member is connected to a tubeextending some distance into the packing, but this is not usual. Thepresence of the hole 24 in the compression member 20 is advantageous inthe functioning of the atomizer device on the release stroke, thuseliminating one of the main causes of clogging of the opening due tomucous being drawn in and extremely diicult to remove, because of thesmallness of the hole and the nature of mucous material. Furthermore,Without the hole 24 it is impossible to utilize a large portion of theliquid contained in the absorbent packing. Apparently this is becausethe liquid is pushed back from the nozzle opening by air upon therelease stroke. With the hole 24 all the air which goes through thepacking is outward and tends to force the liquid towards the'nozzle.This makes for more complete utilization ofthe medicament contained inthe absorbent packing 30. The construction of the nozzle II so that thehole I4 is some distance from vthe end is highly advantageous when th'edevice is employed as an atomizer for the. nasal passages in preventingmucous from being drawn` into the atomizer when the` pressure on thebulb is released.

Embodiments 1. The general Anature of this embodiment is glven in FigureI. Thecap member I and the body member I0 are made of molded plastic ma#v4I). The packingmaterial is of a rectangular prism shape having sizesof and 11/2" long. The hole I4 is approximately 1,@0 in diameter. Whensuitablyimpreg'nated With'medicinal liquid, the device provides a simpleand effective means of forming a finely dense spray of the medicinalliquid.

2. This form of an atomizing device is shown in Figure V. The cap andbody members are` formed of molded plastic material of about 0.025 inchthickness. The body member is externally of circular cross-section of indiameter and internally of square cross-section of side The body memberis 1%" long with internal space for holding the absorbent impregnatedfelt material 30 of 11/2" long. The hole I 4 in the septum I3 is 1,4;0"in diameter. The compression bulb 20 has an air vent 24 therein. Theconnection between the compression member 20 and the body member I0 ismade by the tting of the inwardly directed flange 23 of the compressionmember in the groove I6 on the body member. The seal is made by thecrimping of the member 40 over the forwardly projecting edge of theannular enlargement of the body member I3.

3. Embodiment 3 differs from Embodiment 2 only in having 1an absorbentpacking material 30 of smaller forwardly projecting cross-section thanthe main body of the absorbent material, and in having a gasket I3 inthe cap member.

Although the invention has been disclosed with reierence to speciiicembodiments thereof.

it is not intended that any limitation shall be implied thereby, thenovelty and scope of the invention is yduly set forth in the followingclaim.

What is claimed is:

An atomizer device for injecting medicinal liquids into the nasal andoral passages of the body, which' comprises a tubular body member openat its inlet end and provided with a nozzle at itsdischarge end adaptedfor insertion into said passages, a septum across the body member at thebase of the nozzle and provided with a small atomizing hole of about1,440 inch in d1- ameter, a compression bulb engaging the inlet end ofthe tubular body member in` airtight, fiuid-tigh't relation, the bulbhaving an air hole to permit direct inflation with air. a body ofabsorbent material containing the medicinal liquid'disposed within thebody member compressed between the septum and the bulb and substantiallycovering the hole in the septum, and a cap removably affixed to thenozzle carrying a gasket adapted to provide a uid seal against thedischarge end of th'e nozzle.

' EDWARD '.B. HUNN.

